Saddles for pedal-driven machines

ABSTRACT

A hornless saddle for a pedal-operated machine is disclosed, the saddle having an upwardly concave semi-circular shape including two adjacent quadrant-shaped planar surfaces for supporting a rider&#39;s buttocks. Each surface is bounded by upstanding embankments to the side and rear thereof which embrace and retain the rider&#39;s buttocks on the saddle. The saddle is capable of limited lateral pivotal movement about a fore and aft axis to accommodate and mimic the lateral rolling action of the rider&#39;s pelvis as the pedals are rotated.

This invention relates to saddles for pedal-operated machines. It ismore particularly concerned with hornless saddles for bicycles,tricycles and other pedal-driven vehicles, but it is of course equallyrelevant to pedal-operated exercise or other machines--all which areincluded, when the context so allows, in the term `cycle` wherever thatfor convenience is used hereinafter.

Bicycles and like machines have been used for more than a hundred years,and have indeed achieved mass popularity world-wide. One might supposethat over so long a period more than one kind of saddle might have beendevised to fulfil the necessary requirements. It has however been saidthat over the long period since bicycles were invented and first cameinto use there have been immense improvements in every aspect of themachine save only in the saddles, which in practice remain much as theywere long, long ago.

The function of any cycle saddle must be to support the rider's weighton the cycle and to restrain the rider's seat against slipping off thesaddle, while leaving his or her legs and feet free to rotate thepedals. No-one can know every form of saddle that has ever been devisedfor this purpose, but based upon experience of what is actuallyavailable it seems a safe generalisation to say that all conventionalbicycle saddles have achieved these objectives by providing a rearward,generally-planar and relatively-broad buttock-adjacent platform, whichmerges into a single, forwardly-projecting, relatively-narrowupwardly-convex saddle horn. Where research has revealed any exceptionsto that general rule they will be mentioned hereinafter, but it iscertainly that kind of single-horned saddle which seems nowadays to bein universal use--and yet it has distinct drawbacks.

With the conventional single-horned saddle one supposes that the rider'sweight ought to be carried wholly or at least mainly by the rider'sbuttocks on the relatively-broad rearward platform, and that the hornserves only to pass between the rider's legs and thereby prevent therider from slipping off the saddle--but all too often in practice muchor even virtually all of the weight is actually borne by the rider'scrotch on the relatively-narrow, forwardly-projecting, upwardly-convexsaddle horn. Sportsmen and other cycling enthusiasts should be awarethat there are medical conditions which can arise from prolonged andexcessive cycling on such conventional saddles, due to the pressureexerted on the rider's crotch when in contact with the horn of thisconventional type of saddle.

There is indeed an essentially incurable medical condition known aschronic pressure neuropathy, from which competition cyclists and othercycling enthusiasts are liable to suffer, and which though notlife-threatening is at best unpleasant and better avoided, while atworst its consequences can be socially unacceptable.

It is the object of this invention to address and so far as possible tosolve this problem by providing an hornless cycle saddle, which willsupport the buttocks rather than the crotch of the rider and whichbecause there is no forwardly-projecting horn passing between therider's legs thus eliminates the danger of bruising to the nervoustissues and local blood-supply vessels and other associated, morelong-term effects in the region of the rider's crotch, but whichnevertheless is adapted to retain the rider's seat firmly in the saddlewhile leaving his or her legs free to rotate the pedals.

According to the present invention there is provided an hornless saddlefor a pedal-operated cycle, which comprises an upwardly-concave,substantially semi-circular saddle including two adjacent generallyquadrant-shaped, planar surfaces for supporting a rider's respectivebuttocks, said surfaces being each bounded at one or more points alongits arcuate periphery by upstanding embankments arranged to the side andrear thereof so as to embrace and thereby retain the rider's buttocks insitu thereon, as well as means for mounting said saddle upon the cyclefor lateral titling movement about an axis disposed fore-and-aft of thecycle so as to accommodate and mimic the lateral rolling action of therider's pelvis as the pedals are rotated.

Since the cycle saddle of this invention is free from anyforwardly-projecting, upwardly-convex horn that passes between therider's legs it is to that extent already a great improvementmedically-speaking over the conventional single-horned saddle design. Inorder still further to improve it in this respect, the saddle should notmerely lack the forwardly-projecting horn of the conventional saddle butvery preferably will be at least recessed and possibly separated alongits centre-line, so that the respective quadrant-shapedbuttock-supporting surfaces are spaced apart either side of the centreline of the saddle, thus leaving a sub-crotch channel therebetween inthe region of the rider's crotch, and so to speak creating a bipartitesaddle surface.

It is also preferred that the leading edge of the generally semicircular saddle should be indented, at least and especially adjacent thesaddle's centre line, so that the outline of the pair of adjacentquadrant-shaped buttock-supporting surfaces is bicuspid or"kidney-shaped" in overall appearance, with its two lateral "wings"projecting further forward than its middle.

In these ways it is possible to ensure a complete absence of anysaddle-structure which could contact the rider's crotch, and therebycause damage to the nervous system and/or blood-supply vessels in thatregion. The sub-crotch channel and the bicuspid (or kidney-shaped)saddle-outline moreover both facilitate ventilation of a body-areaotherwise notorious for heavy perspiration, and thereby contribute tocooling of the blood supply and thus an improvement in athleticefficiency.

The resultant hornless and bicuspid, upwardly-concave,buttock-supporting and embracing saddle of this invention can bestrongly contrasted with the conventional, single-horned andapproximately arrow-shaped, upwardly-convex, crotch-contacting saddleshitherto used, and it can easily be seen that the medical problems whichcan afflict cyclists are altogether avoided by adoption of this new formof hornless saddle. Moreover, while comfort is a subjective matter,those who have tested this new hornless saddle agree that it is verycomfortable in use.

Of course, the mounting means for the saddle must include arrangementsfor attaching the whole saddle assembly, including both thequadrant-shaped buttock-supporting and -embracing surfaces of thehornless saddle, to the cycle frame, e.g. a saddle pillar. Whether fullyseparate or not, the two generally quadrant-shaped buttock-supportingsurfaces will normally be both associated with a common base-member andmounted substantially side-by-side thereon. In turn, the base-member forthe saddle assembly needs to be capable of attachment to the cycleframe, and of course most advantageously to a saddle-pillar ofadjustable height associated with the cycle frame.

More than that the mounting means for the saddle assembly must howeverfor the purposes of this invention also enable lateral tilting movementof the saddle assembly about an axis disposed fore-and-aft of the cycle,thus lying more or less substantially horizontally fore-and-aft in theplane of the cycle frame. The intention is that the common base-memberwith the associated quadrants should be capable of restricted rotationabout this common axis to permit the saddle to tilt laterally, from oneside to the other, so as to accommodate and mimic the rolling action ofthe rider's pelvis as the cycle pedals are rotated.

The greater the separation between the saddle assembly and the axisabout which it tilts the greater the extent to which the saddle assemblywill tend to shift from side to side as it tilts, and any suchside-to-side shifting of the saddle should be kept as small asreasonably possible. Consequently it is a much preferred feature of thisinvention that the axis about which the saddle is able to tilt shall bearranged closely adjacent to the underside of the saddle assembly.

Because the intention is that the tilting of the saddle should so far aspossible mimic the rolling action of the rider's pelvis, it is verydesirable that the degree of tilting movement allowed to either sideshould be restricted to that which the rider's pelvis might require andbear. This is to some extent dependent on the physique of the individualrider--but as a generalisation it is believed that the degree of tiltingpermissible (either to one side or the other) should be in the range offrom 10° to 25°, usually no more than 20°, and for most riders set at orabout substantially 15°.

However, so as to cater for the physical characteristics of anyindividual rider, it is further preferred that the saddle mounting meansshall also include tilt-adjustable stop device(s) whereby the maximumangle of tilt can be varied within limits to suit individual needs.

Unless provided with further means for preventing this, the saddle ofthis invention will tend to flop to one side or the other when not inuse. This actually is of no disadvantage to the function of the saddlewhen in use, but those accustomed to the conventional kind of fixedsaddle may find this unfamiliar and therefore disconcerting. Merely forthat reason it is preferred that lateral tilting of the saddle eitherside of its normal horizontal attitude should be restrained by springbias, preferably dampened, which bias therefore tends always to returnthe saddle to the horizontal.

The buttock-facing planar and/or upstanding embankment surfaces of thehornless saddle will very desirably be to a suitable degree flexiblyresilient, so that they readily can and will conform themselves to thebuttock-contours of any rider. Moreover the buttock-facing planar and/orupstanding embankment surfaces of the saddle should advantageously be(to a certain, appropriate extent) cushioned, so as to dampen vibrationand jarring imparted by the roadway to the wheels of the pedal-drivencycle and then transmitted through its frame to the saddle.

These twin objectives can conveniently be attained by forming thehornless saddle so that its buttock-facing surfaces are flexiblyresilient and supported by a cushioned seat-assembly carried by thesaddle mounting arrangements. In one convenient form of construction thebase-member is a rigid plate, bearing dependent attachment lugs viawhich it is mounted on the saddle pillar, and which rigid plate in turncarries the cushioned seat-assembly, which may be no more than amoulded, closed-pore foam or other spongy rubber or plastics material.

It may however be preferable if the cushioned seat-assembly comprises anupper, flexibly-resilient buttock-facing surface as well as a lowersurface carried by the common base-plate, and between these upper andlower surfaces one or more fluid-filled void(s).

The void or voids in the cushioned seat assembly may, if desired befilled with pressurised gas, usually of course air, and if so a valve orvalves akin to those provided on pneumatic cycle tires may beincorporated in the saddle. This arrangement has the advantage that theair-pressure within the voids can be readily adjusted by the rider tosuit his or her preference, and indeed subsequently re-adjusted ifdesired. When using this kind of gas-pressurised saddle, it is usuallypreferable to insert an inflatable bladder within the saddle-void(s),and to pressurise that bladder rather than the saddle-void(s) proper.

On a balance of considerations (even recognising that one therebysacrifices the possibility of pressure-adjustment to suit the rider'sindividual preference) it is however currently preferred to adopt analternative arrangement which involves filling the void or voids with aconstant-volume liquid-phase material, thereby avoiding any danger ofpressure-loss during use, except of course in the event of damage soserious as to result in liquid-leakage.

When using a liquid-phase material to fill the void(s) the availablechoice of such liquid materials is almost limitless. However, whilewishing the resiliently-flexible buttock-facing surfaces of the saddleto conform themselves reasonably quickly to changes inbuttock-positioning and contour, a certain reluctance to conforminstantaneously seems to enhance the cushioning effect. It is thereforepreferred to employ semi-liquid, somewhat viscous and indeed gel-likematerials within the void(s), such as are already known for use incushioning of the conventional kind.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of this invention the twoadjacent, generally quadrant-shaped buttock-supporting surfaces are eachsupported by fluid-pressure within one or more void(s) beneath thatsurface, all said voids containing a semi-liquid, viscoussubstantially-incomprehensible gel, able to equilibrate the pressures atall buttock-supporting and -embracing surfaces, and in which therespective void(s) beneath one buttock-supporting surface and the otherbuttock-supporting surface are interconnected via one or more duct(s)which will permit restricted flow of gel between one void and another,so that the respective surfaces are capable of alternate rising andfalling action as the gel flows back and forth through the duct(s),according to the rider's attitude.

The invention also extends to pedal-operated cycles provided with one ormore hornless, bicuspid saddle(s) as herein described.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some currentlypreferred embodiments thereof will now be described in more detail,though only by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanyingschematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view (from above, the rear, and one side) of thetwo adjacent buttock-supporting and embracing quadrants of an hornlesssaddle;

FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view, taken on the line II--II in FIG. 1,which more clearly (though still rather diagrammatically) shows thecontours of the saddle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view (again from above and one side, but hereinstead also from the front) of a similar embodiment of hornless saddle;

FIG. 4 is a plan view from above of the saddle shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view (from above, the rear and one side) of asimilar embodiment of hornless saddle; now includingschematically-indicated means for supporting it upon the frame of acycle;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the saddle-embodiment of FIG. 5, asseen in rear view;

FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view, partly cut-away and then incross-section, of the saddle-supporting mechanism of thesaddle-embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, from the front and above, of a variant ofthe embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7 above, using a different and rather lesscomplex spring-biasing and damping arrangement; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded view, on an enlarged scale, of the spring-biasingand damping arrangement of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line X--X in FIG. 3,including the saddle attachment means therebelow; and

FIG. 11 is a view, partly in cross-section, taken on the line XI--XI inFIG. 4, which shows more clearly the attachment means by which thesaddle is carried on the cycle framework;

Referring first to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, it will first beseen from FIG. 1 that the cycle saddle generally indicated 1 comprises aleft-buttock supporting and embracing quadrant 2 and a right-buttocksupporting and embracing quadrant 3, each the mirror-image of the other.Each of the quadrants 2 and 3 has an inclined rearward embankment,respectively 4a and 4b which merges arcuately into an inclined, lateralembankment, respectively 5a and 5b. These buttock-embracing embankments4a, 5a and 4b, 5b surround and embrace the respective left- andright-buttocks (not shown) of a rider seated in the saddle and supportedtherein by the respective generally-horizontal buttock-supportsaddle-surfaces, 6a and 6b.

Alternatively the two of them jointly may be integrated into a singleassembly, and then if desired the two quadrants may both have gel-filledcushioning voids inter-connected by one or more ducts, as will besubsequently described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 upon agenerally-horizontal base plate 7.

The left-buttock quadrant 2 and the right-buttock quadrant 3 aresimilarly constructed, each of them the same image of the other. Each ofthem separately may be a gel-filled cushion, the left-buttock quadrant 2is for simplicity formed of moulded, spongy foamed plastics material,mounted upon a generally-horizontal base plate 7.

Turning now to the alternative, second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5to 7, it will be seen from FIG. 5 that a tubular saddle-pillar 21(carried by the main cycle framework--not shown) is embraced by atubular cap 22 having an upstanding, apertured attachment lug 23arranged fore-and-aft (that is to say, in the plane of the cycleframework) across the top of the tubular cap 22, which is secured to thepillar 2 by means of a set-screw 24.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the lug 23 is interposed between two dependentapertured flanges 25, and the respective lug 23 and flanges 25 arerotatably interconnected by means of a bolt 26 which passes through theapertures in the respective lug and flanges, which bolt 26 is secured inplace by a nut 27 that can be tightened up on the bolt to clamp theflanges 25 onto the lug 23 and thereby effect a firm, non-rotatableinterconnection between them.

The flanges 25 depend from a generally-planar and essentially horizontalbase-plate 28, which extends across the whole of the underside of thesaddle proper, here generally indicated 29. Mounted upon the base plate28 is the lower, generally-planar face 30 of the saddle 29 whichcomprises a right-hand-side buttock-supporting and -embracing quadrant31a and a left-hand-side buttock-supporting and -embracing quadrant 31b,those quadrants being each bounded by respective inclined,inwardly-directed sloping surfaces 32a and 32b, which restrain a riderseated on the saddle from slipping off it sidewards in either onedirection or the other. The saddle-cushion 29 is also bounded at therear by similar, inwardly-directed sloping surface(s) 33a and 33b, whichprevent the rider when seated on the saddle from sliding off itbackwards, and moreover provide an abutment surface against which therider's buttocks may press when the rider is working hard at pedallingthe vehicle.

As seen best in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lateral quadrants respectively 31aand 31b of the saddle extend forwardly (i.e. in the forward direction ofmovement of the pedal-vehicle, as shown by arrow 34) thus giving thesaddle, in plan view as best seen in FIG. 4, its characteristic bicuspidor "kidney" shape.

Intermediate the quadrants 31a and 31b and directly above the dependingflanges 25 (which form the mounting bracket) the saddle is provided witha recessed, re-entrant channel, generally indicated 35, which is open atits forward end but closed off at its rearward end.

Referring again to FIGS. 5 to 7, it will be seen that FIG. 5 shows twosaddle-quadrants 40 and 41, intended to support and embrace respectivelythe left-buttock and the right-buttock of any rider. The quadrants 40and 41 are except as indicated below generally similar in constructionto those described with reference to previously-mentioned embodiment. InFIG. 5 (merely for ease of illustration) there is no structure extendingbetween the quadrants 40 and 41, but in fact as appears from FIG. 6,there is an interconnecting web 42 extending therebetween, at the bottomof the sub-crotch channel 43.

Both the quadrants 40 and 41 as well as the intervening web 42 aresupported (see FIG. 6) on a base plate 44 which extends from side toside of both quadrants, but at its centre immediately beneath the web 42and below the sub-crotch channel 43 is integrated with a rotatableend-cap 45 having a cylindrical stub-shaft 46 projecting therefrom,rotatably received within an housing 47 which in turn is mounted at theupper end of a saddle pillar 48.

As appears best from FIG. 7, the stub 46 has an inclined end surface 49,and at one point thereon a semi-circular depression 50 which receiveshalf of a ball bearing 51. The other half of the ball bearing 51 runs ina circular or partcircular track 52 formed in thecorrespondingly-inclined, co-acting end-surface 53 of an axially-movableplug 54, movable within the housing 47 between limits established by agrub-screw 55 passing through the housing 47 and received within alongitudinally-extending slot 56 in the plug 54.

The end of the plug 54 remote from its inclined surface abuts within thehousing against the end of a compression spring 57. The spring 57 isdisposed around a retaining bolt 58 which passes axially through thehousing, the movable plug 54 and the rotatable end-cap 45 and is thereengaged with a nut 59, within a cavity closed off (merely for the sakeof appearance) by a cover 60.

When the motion of a rider's pelvis and thus his buttocks seeks todepress one of the quadrants 40, 41 while permitting the other to rise,that lateral tilting motion (in whichever direction) rotates the baseplate 44 and with it the end-cap 45, and this angular rotation istranslated by the co-acting inclined surfaces 49 and 53 of therespective stub-shaft 46 and plug 54 and the intervening ball-bearing 50into a linear movement in the axial direction of the plug 54 against thebias of the compression spring 57. This spring bias tends always toreturn the whole saddle to its normal, substantially horizontalaltitude.

Referring now to the modified version shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, it will beseen that saddle quadrants 70 and 71 with an intervening web 72 are asbefore mounted upon a common base plate 73. However the base plate 73 inthis modification is supported on a generally semi-circular,laterally-extending, dependent ear 74 (or, as better seen in FIG. 9, apair of such ears 74a, 74b) having an eccentrically-located aperture 75(or apertures 75a, 75b) therein, through which passes a bolt 76 which isthreadedly-engaged via a washer 77 with a nut 78.

Due to the eccentric location of the aperture(s) 75 and bolt 76 & c.,the circular periphery of the ear(s) 74 provides a camming surface whichbears upon a flanged cylindrical axially-slidable collar 79 disposedaround the upper stem-portion 80 of the saddle pillar 81 having at itsupper end a transverse bore 82 through which the bolt 76 passes. Thelower end of the slidable collar 79 engages a spiral spring 84 disposedaround the stem-portion 80, and the other end of the compression spring84 is engaged by an outwardly-knurled, internally threaded collar 85, at86 for inter-engagement (and longitudinal adjustment) with a threadedsection 87 provided on the saddle pillar 81 below the stem-portion 80.Much as in the embodiment of FIGS. 7-10, when the rolling action of anyrider's pelvis causes the assembly to tilt either one way or the other,this results in rotation of the semi-circular ear(s) 74 about theeccentrically-located bolt 76 forcing the slidable collar 79 downagainst the bias of spring 84. Thus the spring 84 resists the tiltingmovement of the saddle, and seeks always to restore it to its normalhorizontal attitude.

Referring now to FIG. 10, it will be seen that the respective lateraland rearward buttock-embracing embankments 32a, 32b and 33a, 33b slopedown to and half-surround generally-horizontal buttock-supportingquadrant surfaces 31a, 31b, the left-hand and right-hand portions ofwhich are separated by the recessed channel 35. Beneath the right-handquadrant 31a of the saddle there is a void 36a, and beneath the other,left-hand quadrant 31b there is a void 36b, each of them filled with asemi-liquid, rather viscous and substantially incompressible gel (notshown) capable of equilibrating pressure beneath and around the buttocksof the rider. Pressure is also equilibrated as between void 36a and void36b via one or more inter-connecting duct(s) 37. The voids 36a, 36b andinterconnecting duct(s) 37 are sealed off by means of the horizontalmembrane 30, which in turn is supported on the horizontal base plate 28.

The angle at which the saddle 29 is mounted upon the pillar can beadjusted, as best seen in FIG. 11, by loosening the nut 27 on the bolt26 and then rotating the depending flanges 25 relative to the upstandinglug 23 until the desired saddle-attitude is achieved, and thereafterre-tightening the nut 27 on the bolt 26.

It will of course be understood that the preferred embodiment ofhornless saddle as described above is capable of a variety ofmodifications. In particular the voids and interconnecting duct may befilled not with semi-liquid gel as suggested above but instead withcompressed air, pumped in and/or released via a bicycle-type tire-valve,and therefore operable by a normal bicycle tire pump. Where the saddleis thus pressurised by compressed air, a further desirable modificationwill usually be to provide within the void(s) an inflatable bladder,akin to the kind of bladder employed inside a football or the like, andto pressurise that bladder rather than the saddle itself.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hornless saddle for a pedal-operated machine,which comprises an upwardly-concave, substantially semicircular saddleincluding two adjacent generally quadrant-shaped, planar surfaces forsupporting a rider's respective buttocks, said surfaces being eachbounded at a plurality of points along its arcuate periphery byupstanding embankments arranged to the side and rear thereof so as toembrace and thereby retain the rider's buttocks in situ thereon, as wellas means for mounting said saddle upon the pedal-operated machine forlimited lateral pivotal movement about an axis disposed fore-and-aft ofthe pedal-operated machine so as to accommodate and mimic lateralrolling action of a rider's pelvis as the pedals are rotated.
 2. Ahornless saddle according to claim 1, in which the respectivequadrant-shaped, buttock-supporting surfaces are spaced apart eitherside of but adjacent to the center line of the saddle, leaving asub-crotch channel therebetween in the region of the rider's crotch. 3.A hornless saddle according to claim 1, in which the generallysemicircular saddle is indented at least adjacent the saddle's centerline so that the overall outline of the pair of buttock-supportingsurfaces is bicuspid, having two lateral wings projecting furtherforward than its middle.
 4. A hornless saddle according to claim 1, inwhich the buttock-supporting surfaces thereof are flexibly-resilient soas to conform to any rider's buttocks and cushioned so as to dampenvibration and jarring.
 5. A hornless saddle according to claim 4, inwhich the two separate, generally quadrant-shaped buttock-supportingsurfaces are each formed of flexibly-resilient material able to conformsaid surfaces to the buttock-contours of any rider, and each of saidsurfaces is supported by fluid-pressure within at least one voidtherebeneath, said voids containing a semi-liquid, viscous,substantially incompressible gel, able to equilibrate the pressures atall buttock-supporting and embracing surfaces, further including ductinginterconnecting the void beneath one buttock-supporting surface and thevoid beneath the other buttock-supporting surface, said ductingpermitting only restricted flow of gel therebetween, so that therespective surfaces are capable of alternate rising and falling actionto accommodate varying attitudes of the rider's thighs.
 6. A hornlesssaddle according to claim 1, wherein said pedal-operated machine has aframe and in which the two buttock-supporting surfaces are bothassociated with a common base-member and mounted substantiallyside-by-side thereon, said base member being in turn provided with meansfor attachment to a saddle-pillar of adjustable height secured to theframe of the pedal-operated machine.
 7. A hornless saddle for apedal-operated machine according to claim 6, in which the two generallyquadrant-shaped buttock-supporting surfaces and the associated commonbase-member are mounted on a common tilt axis about which the saddle iscapable of restricted rotation, said buttock-supporting surfaces beingdisposed substantially side--side adjacent to each other but one to eachside of said tilt axis, the common tilt axis lying substantiallyfore-and-aft in the plane of a cycle frame and closely adjacent to theunderside of the saddle.
 8. A hornless saddle according to claim 7, inwhich the degree of tilting to either side permitted is in the range offrom about 10° to about 25°.
 9. A hornless saddle according to claim 8in which the degree of tilting to either side permitted is about 15°.10. A hornless saddle according to claim 7, which includes at least onetilt-adjustable stop device whereby the maximum angle of tilt can bevaried.
 11. A hornless saddle according to claim 7, further including aspring for restraining lateral tilting of the saddle, the spring biasingthe saddle and tending to return it always to the horizontal.